(Poll)Would you support an united Ireland?

Yes

No

Undecided

I'm the unusual combination of being a right of centre British republican... the Anglo-Celtic peoples have far more in common with our cousins in the US, Canada, NZ and Australia than with the Europeans. I'd be happy to see a single 'State' of Ireland or the states of Northern and Southern Ireland, next to the states of England, Wales, Scotland, Queensland, Virginia, North Island, Pennsylvania etc. etc. etc.

We have more or less the same language, legal system and form of democracy. It would remove the 'chip on shoulder' form the anti-English, allow those who fear independence a great big economy to hide in, pretty much guarantee security - and probably world peace too - and make what so many Remainers claim to value very easy, i.e. freedom of travel without visas...

at the moment NO maybe in the future i could, it would all depend on how much further the RoI separated Church and state, as i would need a near/total separation of church and state before i would think about it, btw is has nothing to do with the church being Roman catholic , is simply that as an Agnostic i don't think any church should be involved with government.

As a Farmer i don't want access to RoI i want access to the 65 million people in the UK, i know that many of the processing plants that I sell my stuff too are in the RoI but i have no love for the milk plants that last year when times were hard were paying 1-1.5p/liter LESS for milk got from the north than the south, i have no love for the meat plants that over the years have paid less for N.Ireland beef/sheep because they know we have nowhere else to sell. or for a cercend Irish beef baron who was quoted as saying that if any N.I beef appeared in his UK plants then that herd would be banned for all his Irish plants

at the moment NO maybe in the future i could, it would all depend on how much further the RoI separated Church and state, as i would need a near/total separation of church and state before i would think about it, btw is has nothing to do with the church being Roman catholic , is simply that as an Agnostic i don't think any church should be involved with government.

As a Farmer i don't want access to RoI i want access to the 65 million people in the UK, i know that many of the processing plants that I sell my stuff too are in the RoI but i have no love for the milk plants that last year when times were hard were paying 1-1.5p/liter LESS for milk got from the north than the south, i have no love for the meat plants that over the years have paid less for N.Ireland beef/sheep because they know we have nowhere else to sell. or for a cercend Irish beef baron who was quoted as saying that if any N.I beef appeared in his UK plants then that herd would be banned for all his Irish plants

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How do you deduce that the church has ANY influence on the modern ROI state! That old order is over. This weeks abortion referendum and massive yes to abortion majority, has completely driven a stake through the heart of church influence in either government or general society.

Now, as for NI ...... ????? Seems to me the religious fundamentalists pretty much lay out the rules to the DUP and UUP to a lesser extent.

The EU, quite right. The EEC on the other hand, if it had remained as an area purely for free trade and cooperation, had its good points.

Once again it seems apposite to suggest that you don't suppose that because someone is anti-EU they dislike 'Europe' per se; much of the culture is to be admired, there have been many great achievements from the continent, but I believe nothing warrants a surrender of sovereignty, the enforced economic abandonment of our kith and kin and the subjugation of our democracy - and those are just the fundamentals, being apart from the many other faults that lie with the EU.

How's the weather there, enough rain? Dare I write it, we could do with a bit of a drenching...

How do you deduce that the church has ANY influence on the modern ROI state! That old order is over. This weeks abortion referendum and massive yes to abortion majority, has completely driven a stake through the heart of church influence in either government or general society.

Now, as for NI ...... ????? Seems to me the religious fundamentalists pretty much lay out the rules to the DUP and UUP to a lesser extent.

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while it true the Church's (the CoI is just as bad) no longer wield as much power as they use too, they still have massive influence within education and health care

and as for the NI political party's (for I include all the party's form both sides) Don't get me started on them, you get a 10,000 word rant calling them all the names of the day

while it true the Church's (the CoI is just as bad) no longer wield as much power as they use too, they still have massive influence within education and health care

and as for the NI political party's (for I include all the party's form both sides) Don't get me started on them, you get a 10,000 word rant calling them all the names of the day

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Religious factions campaign and fight for influence over the minds of the people, including those in government. They represent a power struggle parallel to government and often exert great influence on the same. The ends to which they will go are every bit as evil as any rogue state and their leaders are unelected, gaining power by blackmail and coercion. History does not tell lies and for religion and its representatives to have influence in elected democracies is absolutely intolerable.

while it true the Church's (the CoI is just as bad) no longer wield as much power as they use too, they still have massive influence within education and health care

and as for the NI political party's (for I include all the party's form both sides) Don't get me started on them, you get a 10,000 word rant calling them all the names of the day

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Changing at pace though, wouldn't be long until Church's are removed from education and healthcare either by reducing resources or society. Never thought I would see the referendum result few weeks ago, schools are next on the list and healthcare reform has already begun with a new children's hospital being built leading the way.

We have already had one referendum this year. The result is clear. The instructions of the people will accordingly be enshrined in law and acted upon by the Dail by the end of the year. We won’t be pizzing about and infighting two years after the referendum with nothing to show for our efforts.

Over the next two years, we have six more referendums lined up to be voted on and we expect our parliment will implement our instructions.

We have many failings in our little republic, but nevertheless we have a fantastic modern constitution backed up by a truly representative PR voting system.

We also have an elected President, who can be relied upon to further scrutinise the actions of parliment and where necessary, take steps to ensure the will of the people is not being ignored.

Would we ever in a million years accept an unrepresentative first past the post electoral system, backed up by an archaic dynastic monarchy? Not in a million years!!!

We have already had one referendum this year. The result is clear. The instructions of the people will accordingly be enshrined in law and acted upon by the Dail by the end of the year. We won’t be pizzing about and infighting two years after the referendum with nothing to show for our efforts.

Over the next two years, we have six more referendums lined up to be voted on and we expect our parliment will implement our instructions.

We have many failings in our little republic, but nevertheless we have a fantastic modern constitution backed up by a truly representative PR voting system.

We also have an elected President, who can be relied upon to further scrutinise the actions of parliment and where necessary, take steps to ensure the will of the people is not being ignored.

Would we ever in a million years accept an unrepresentative first past the post electoral system, backed up by an archaic dynastic monarchy? Not in a million years!!!

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Well it has worked after a muddled fashion for 96 years, a truly magnificent record. I suppose a referendum is better than a civil war.

IMO referendums tend to show poor government in many but not all situations. Handing responsibility over to the electorate on especially of complex decisions is basically passing the buck by the elected representatives.

IMO referendums tend to show poor government in many but not all situations. Handing responsibility over to the electorate on especially of complex decisions is basically passing the buck by the elected representatives.

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It’s not possible for parliment to change any element of the constitution without the permission of the people through a referendum.
Our constitution was written in 1948, and reflected societal values at the time. Seventy years later, Ireland and is a very, very different place. It’s necessary to reflect that in the constitution and continue to do so in future.
As government need to and wish to make the necessary modernisations, they can do so only through a referendum.

It’s not possible for parliment to change any element of the constitution without the permission of the people through a referendum.
Our constitution was written in 1948, and reflected societal values at the time. Seventy years later, Ireland and is a very, very different place. It’s necessary to reflect that in the constitution and continue to do so in future.
As government need to and wish to make the necessary modernisations, they can do so only through a referendum.

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Our constitution, such as it is, was written in 1215. There have been a few changes since then but we generally make it up as we go along. Referenda are expensive to run in a population of 65 million, yours would be rather cheaper, but I still imagine that it is all about avoiding upsetting the church.

Our constitution, such as it is, was written in 1215. There have been a few changes since then but we generally make it up as we go along. Referenda are expensive to run in a population of 65 million, yours would be rather cheaper, but I still imagine that it is all about avoiding upsetting the church.

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Think your massively wrong there, majority of people here don't care about upsetting the church. Only issue with the church here is trying to work out how to extract them from day to day society such as education and health. Its a process they set-up over a century and while it wouldn't take a century to remove them, it does take time to complete such tasks.

Our constitution, such as it is, was written in 1215. There have been a few changes since then but we generally make it up as we go along. Referenda are expensive to run in a population of 65 million, yours would be rather cheaper, but I still imagine that it is all about avoiding upsetting the church.

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You are so informed my dear boy. So uninformed.
The church and state in Ireland are getting more and more apart by the day. It’s basically game set and match for the church.
Same sex marriage!! Openly gay Taoiseach!! Abortion eith amendment removed from the constitution. New guidelines issuing this week that students in all state schools may opt out of any kind of religious education. Etc, etc,.
Any person of any religion or none provided he, she, or it for that matter provide that they are Irish citizens, may stand for election for head of state (president).
I think that is far more than can be said for your own country!! Eh!! Religious bigotry alive and well in the British church / state / monarchical system!!!
1215 you said ....... time to be moving on a bit my dear man!!!

You are so informed my dear boy. So uninformed.
The church and state in Ireland are getting more and more apart by the day. It’s basically game set and match for the church.
Same sex marriage!! Openly gay Taoiseach!! Abortion eith amendment removed from the constitution. New guidelines issuing this week that students in all state schools may opt out of any kind of religious education. Etc, etc,.
Any person of any religion or none provided he, she, or it for that matter provide that they are Irish citizens, may stand for election for head of state (president).
I think that is far more than can be said for your own country!! Eh!! Religious bigotry alive and well in the British church / state / monarchical system!!!
1215 you said ....... time to be moving on a bit my dear man!!!

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It has been pointed out that the church no longer has much influence but it certainly had in 1948 when your constitution was drawn up, hence my suggestion that they had input which is now being unraveled.
Amazing how quickly things progress. I started your post as a boy and then became a man in a matter of minutes.